Giving a helping hand
Here are some examples of the sort of things we can help fund.
Musical Instruments
Books
Art Materials
Sports Equipment
Student Accommodation
Travel Expenses
Am I eligible?
Applications for the 2025/26 academic year are now CLOSED. To be eligible for consideration for a grant, you must be officially enrolled on your course for the 2026/27 academic year (ie applying after September 2026) and meet the following criteria:
- Be aged over 16 and under 25;
- Have been resident in Northampton for at least the last five years (Northampton postcodes NN1-NN5 fall within the eligibility criteria. If you reside within an NN6 postcode, please email STW@hcrlaw.com to confirm eligibility. Postcodes beyond NN6 are not eligible);
- Be in education attending an accredited college or University or be doing part-time vocational training – the Trustees NO LONGER make grants to students AT SCHOOL doing A LEVELS
- Be able to provide an official document confirming the course you are undertaking for the current academic year to support your request for a grant;
- Be a university / further education student fully enrolled on your course for the relevant academic year. Please note: an offer of place / UCAS offer / ID Card / Student Finance Letters / Invoices or Acceptance Letters are NOT proof of enrolment. You must wait until you are officially enrolled on your course before applying.
How does it work?
Step 1
Answer the simple pre-approval questions to start your application.
Step 2
You can complete the application online. If you are unable to complete the application online please email STW@hcrlaw.com and request assistance. The charity is here to help and aim to support all students.
Step 3
Ensure that you upload your ‘proof of enrolment’ document, confirming that you are enrolled on the course that you are seeking a grant to support. Please note: a UCAS offer letter, or email confirming a place offer is not sufficient proof that you have commenced your studies on your stated course.
Step 4
Your application will be reviewed by the Sir Thomas White Charity Grants Sub-Committee, which currently meets once a year in November. Please note that the timing and frequency of these meetings are subject to change at the discretion of the Trustees, and applicants will not be individually notified of any such changes.
Important information
Forms need to be submitted no later than two weeks before each meeting and be accompanied by a formal PROOF OF ENROLMENT confirming you are enrolled on your course for the 2026/27 Academic Year. Proof of Enrolment is provided by the institution you are attending and offer letters / Student Loan letters or invoices/Student ID cards/UCAS letters / acceptance letters ARE NOT ACCEPTED by the charity as proof of enrolment on the course. If you have not enrolled for the 2026/27 Academic Year please do not submit an application as it will be rejected.
Please click here to view a sample of the Proof of Enrolment document that is required.
Please note: for 2025/26 academic year applications were accepted up to 14th October 2025 subject to being submitted with written confirmation you have started the 2025/26 academic year. Applications received after 14th October 2025 will not be considered.
The next grant application process will consider students studying in the 2026/27 academic year and the applications will open in September 2026 – please bookmark this website and check the dates of application carefully.
The Trustees are currently receiving a record number of applications, and have had to make the difficult decision to review the grants they award.
The Trustees have agreed that students doing A Levels at school are no longer eligible to apply
If agreed, your application will go to be approved by the full meeting of the Trustees. Normally you should hear within 6 weeks if your application has been successful. On submission of your application you will receive an automatic response confirming your application reference ID and a clear timeline of the process. Please retain this information.
Grants will be paid by cheque and not by bank transfer. The cheque will be made payable to the name provided on the application form. Please ensure that you provide your full name, and that this matches the name your bank account is held in.
Grant cheques will be sent by post, to the Northampton address provided in your application. The charity is unable to send cheques to student accommodation except in very exceptional circumstances.
Please note that in considering applications:
- The Trustees retain full discretion in selecting grant recipients. To ensure fairness and eliminate any bias, all applications are reviewed anonymously using only the application ID number. Decisions are based solely on the content and merit of each application.
- Incomplete application forms will not be considered; all fields must be completed in full.
- Trustees may verify that applicants are actively enrolled in their course of study.
- Grant awards are subject to the availability of funds and may be lower than anticipated.
- If the number of applications exceeds available resources, Trustees may close the application window earlier than previously announced. Applications will be reviewed in the order they are received.
- To avoid disappointment, we strongly encourage you to submit your application as soon as you are fully enrolled on your course for the 2026/27 academic year.
- If extenuating circumstances prevent you from applying within the designated timeframe, you must contact the charity before the application closing date by emailing stw@hcrlaw.com with a clear explanation of your situation. Please note that contacting the charity after the deadline—simply to say you missed it—is generally not considered a valid extenuating circumstance.
This charity is dedicated to supporting eligible students wherever possible.